How to tell the difference between close-in suburbs?

[Anonymous]

american law school works well with being in maryland

[Anonymous]

Is there something like Del Ray in MD? (Commute issue)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seattleite here- We moved from Wallingford in 2009 and by pure chance ended up in Del Ray. This by far the closest thing you'll find that will fit. Maybe small pockets of Arlington or Takoma Park. Everything else is pure suburban hell. Don't even consider Mclean, Reston, Falls Church, Silver Spring, Vienna.

Those places are like telling someone to move to North Gate if they were relocating to Seattle.

Ignore the hate on the schools. My daughters are excelling- oldest went to UVA with admissions to W and M, Northwestern and Denison.

We also ended up in Del Ray without realizing how fortunate of a choice it was as we were house hunting all over the metro. The housing stock here is similar to our favorite part of Portland -- no cookie-cutter houses, no massive lots, lots of houses with porches and ample outdoor space, and sidewalks with plenty of places people actually walk to! The people here are like where we used to live in the midwest -- quite friendly and neighbors care about each other and the community. And the pace of life seems a touch slower and "keeping up with the Jones" not as much of a thing here compared to parts of Arlington and NWDC that we looked at. That's great to hear about the schools as our oldest will enter elementary school soon, and we hear from our neighbors that the schools seem to get better and better.

Parts of Silver spring and Kensington seem similar in this regard too as we've come to know the DMV. Takoma Park has some very cool houses but was just a bit too crunchy for our personalities.

[Anonymous]

Del Ray to AU Law School will be a little rough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there something like Del Ray in MD? (Commute issue)

I'm in MD, but I don't know what Del Ray is like, so I can't answer that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New to the area. Close-in bethesda, rock creek forest, glen echo, arlington.  What are the differences in character/vibe?  We are a family with 2 under 2 so family-friendliness is important.  Unlikely to afford mclean or chevy chase.  Elementary schools are a consideration but don't really care about MS or HS, not looking for our forever home.  Work commutes not a consideration.

FYI, northern Arlington more expensive than southern McLean and has been for decades.

On a per square foot basis, as land costs more as you get closer to DC.

No one uses the term "southern McLean" IRL, but if you look at the median home sales over the past 12 months in the areas assigned to the three elementary schools that primarily serve areas in McLean south of 123 (Sherman, Kent Gardens, and Chesterbrook ES), it's $1.58 million, compared to $1.21 million in the Yorktown HS district in North Arlington.

So the "same house" might cost more in North Arlington, but the "typical house" in "southern McLean" costs more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there something like Del Ray in MD? (Commute issue)

Takoma Park. Some parts of DTSS and Kensington.

The secret of these places is that they’re pretty expensive, so they’re not as humble and down to earth as their vibe would suggest. They’re still cute and walkable, but not affordable for most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there something like Del Ray in MD? (Commute issue)

Takoma Park. Some parts of DTSS and Kensington.

The secret of these places is that they’re pretty expensive, so they’re not as humble and down to earth as their vibe would suggest. They’re still cute and walkable, but not affordable for most people.

Completely disagree. SFHs in Del Ray are in the 1.2-1.7 range so these are people that could very easily afford McLean, Great Falls, Potomac, Bethesda.

They just don't want to. Because they are down to earth rather than obnoxious, ostentatious new money people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there something like Del Ray in MD? (Commute issue)

Takoma Park. Some parts of DTSS and Kensington.

The secret of these places is that they’re pretty expensive, so they’re not as humble and down to earth as their vibe would suggest. They’re still cute and walkable, but not affordable for most people.

Completely disagree. SFHs in Del Ray are in the 1.2-1.7 range so these are people that could very easily afford McLean, Great Falls, Potomac, Bethesda.

They just don't want to. Because they are down to earth rather than obnoxious, ostentatious new money people.

But you won’t find them In South Arlington, Springfield, or Wheaton - right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seattleite here- We moved from Wallingford in 2009 and by pure chance ended up in Del Ray. This by far the closest thing you'll find that will fit. Maybe small pockets of Arlington or Takoma Park. Everything else is pure suburban hell. Don't even consider Mclean, Reston, Falls Church, Silver Spring, Vienna.

Those places are like telling someone to move to North Gate if they were relocating to Seattle.

Ignore the hate on the schools. My daughters are excelling- oldest went to UVA with admissions to W and M, Northwestern and Denison.

We also ended up in Del Ray without realizing how fortunate of a choice it was as we were house hunting all over the metro. The housing stock here is similar to our favorite part of Portland -- no cookie-cutter houses, no massive lots, lots of houses with porches and ample outdoor space, and sidewalks with plenty of places people actually walk to! The people here are like where we used to live in the midwest -- quite friendly and neighbors care about each other and the community. And the pace of life seems a touch slower and "keeping up with the Jones" not as much of a thing here compared to parts of Arlington and NWDC that we looked at. That's great to hear about the schools as our oldest will enter elementary school soon, and we hear from our neighbors that the schools seem to get better and better.

Parts of Silver spring and Kensington seem similar in this regard too as we've come to know the DMV. Takoma Park has some very cool houses but was just a bit too crunchy for our personalities.

LMAO, that is because the people there ARE the Joneses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Smh Stay in DC if you aren't even going to do real research or drive-throughs of the neighborhoods. Or search literally any thread with each neighborhood/town.

You should tell us about where you live so OP can avoid you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seattleite here- We moved from Wallingford in 2009 and by pure chance ended up in Del Ray. This by far the closest thing you'll find that will fit. Maybe small pockets of Arlington or Takoma Park. Everything else is pure suburban hell. Don't even consider Mclean, Reston, Falls Church, Silver Spring, Vienna.

Those places are like telling someone to move to North Gate if they were relocating to Seattle.

Ignore the hate on the schools. My daughters are excelling- oldest went to UVA with admissions to W and M, Northwestern and Denison.

What years did your kids graduate? If 2020 or earlier, completely irrelevant. Things have changed dramatically in college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, I’m from Washington State (near Tacoma). If you are wanting a close in suburb with a more relaxed and friendly vibe, I think you will like Takoma Park and Silver Spring. It’s a lot more uptight around here in general but those parts feel more PNW to me (A lot of TP looks like Portland) if that is a positive for you. That’s not to say the other suburbs aren’t nice, I just find the over the top wealth and competitiveness off-putting. None of those you mentioned are cheap, but there is more socioeconomic diversity in SS and TP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there something like Del Ray in MD? (Commute issue)

Takoma Park. Some parts of DTSS and Kensington.

The secret of these places is that they’re pretty expensive, so they’re not as humble and down to earth as their vibe would suggest. They’re still cute and walkable, but not affordable for most people.

Completely disagree. SFHs in Del Ray are in the 1.2-1.7 range so these are people that could very easily afford McLean, Great Falls, Potomac, Bethesda.

They just don't want to. Because they are down to earth rather than obnoxious, ostentatious new money people.

Your arm must be sore from patting yourself on the back so hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seattleite here- We moved from Wallingford in 2009 and by pure chance ended up in Del Ray. This by far the closest thing you'll find that will fit. Maybe small pockets of Arlington or Takoma Park. Everything else is pure suburban hell. Don't even consider Mclean, Reston, Falls Church, Silver Spring, Vienna.

Those places are like telling someone to move to North Gate if they were relocating to Seattle.

Ignore the hate on the schools. My daughters are excelling- oldest went to UVA with admissions to W and M, Northwestern and Denison.

Ummm Northgate doesn’t have a metro to get you into Seattle and close-in Silver Spring is not “pure suburban hell”. It’s close to DC with good schools and some diverse housing stock in nice neighborhoods. By the sounds of it you haven’t spent much time here. I’m glad you love Del Ray but sheesh